A/N Sorry it's taken me so long to update, I've been struggling with the plot, and the plot bunnies keep running around in my head.
I've decided that I'll only maintain a maximum of two chapter stories at a time, so if updates are slow, it's probably because I'm doing schoolwork or writing other stuff that will be posted in the future :D so sorry for that.
Thanks to AmShe256 for pointing out a continuity error, as always these remain unbeta'd chapters, so if you point out mistakes, I'll gratefully fix them :D.
Fic Recommendation of the week
Sixty Five Hours by Owenic
Chapter 9 – I'll be there for you
Half an hour later, Jasper sat idly in a waiting room with about five camera crews. He wasn't really surprised that Edward's heat stroke scare had captured the attention of the media, but at the same time, he wished they would just go the fuck away.
Edward had definitely been teasing Jasper all day, which Jasper correctly interpreted as Edward's adamant refusal of Jasper's intent to keep his distance. The blond wanted to bury his head in his hands or call Emmett and talk about what to do. He did neither of these things. Firstly, the press were entirely too interested in why the site manager of Edward's charity project had personally delivered him to the hospital. They also wanted to know why Jasper had stuck around, why they always showed up on the lot together, why they were both wearing cowboy boots. Jasper was not used to dealing with the media, so he simply declined to comment. This in and of itself caused some knowing glances between a few reporters.
Jasper sighed and resigned himself to the knowledge that he would most likely end up on the news.
He didn't call Emmett for a second reason. He hadn't talked to Edward's brother since Seattle. He didn't want Emmett to make good on the threat to hurt him if Edward suffered from whatever the fuck their relationship had turned into. Jasper wasn't sure if Edward was suffering, but everything was definitely not worked out in any reasonable sense. He dug his heels into the carpet as he paged through a dry medical journal. The pictures were not pretty.
"For fuck's sake! If I were anyone but Edward Cullen, you'd be begging me to leave! I'm not an invalid." Jasper and the news crews perked up at the same time as Edward's tirade came drifting down the hall. The redhead was sick of being scared and intimidated. He was finished pandering. He was going to punch a reporter in the nose, and then he was going to pounce on Jasper and make out on national television.
Edward stalked through the swinging double doors and stopped at the sight of five cameras, microphones, and lights pointed directly at him. He narrowed his eyes.
"Thank you so much for your concern over my incredibly insignificant and non-threatening medical scare this afternoon. It's really wonderful of the press to care so much about every minute detail of my life. Now if you would please stop treating me like some fame-obsessed celebrity and give me some goddamn privacy, I'd appreciate it ever so." Edward jerked his head in Jasper's direction and stalked out of the lobby, ignoring all questions from the tenacious reporters. Jasper made sure no cameras were pointed at him before grinning broadly at the younger man. Edward seemed to have gotten over most of his fear of the media. Jasper thought it was fucking hot.
They didn't say much to each other on the way back to the hotel because Edward was still fuming over the pandering doctors and prying media. He really had to speak to his parents about convincing the media to leave him the fuck alone. It wasn't funny, it had never been funny, it would never be—Jasper was laughing.
"It's not funny." Edward snapped. Jasper pulled into the parking lot and parked before leaning over the steering wheel, "Stop laughing," Edward's eyes narrowed dangerously, Jasper didn't stop laughing. Edward growled and grabbed Jasper roughly, turning the blond and pulling him close so that their noses were nearly touching, "Stop laughing, you jackass." Jasper stopped laughing.
The blond was suddenly very aware of how close they were. His pupils dilated, darkening his eyes. Edward saw the mirth drain from Jasper's face to be replaced with molten want. Edward smirked. Edward and Jasper shared breath for another moment, Jasper was too scared to make a move. Edward released Jasper with a triumphant grin, relishing the lust haze on the older man's torturously good-looking face.
"It wasn't funny," Edward said softly.
Jasper couldn't remember what they were talking about, his eyes were locked on Edward's lips, "Hn?" The blond leaned toward Edward and the redhead pulled away suddenly. Edward jumped out of the truck.
"Jasper, let's talk over dinner. I want to… figure this all out." Jasper nodded dumbly before reaching for his own door and following Edward. Edward crossed the lot, keeping an eye out for any press. He swiped his keycard and pushed the door open, letting Jasper in and closing the door swiftly.
Jasper stood very close to Edward, close enough that they could each feel the heat of the other man. Edward shivered at the proximity to Jasper. Remembering Jasper's expression, Edward felt his body react to the other man and he shifted to hide his arousal. Jasper noticed and his cock strained against his jeans, "Edward, food… I mean, we should eat before… anything…" Jasper lowered his head until his lips were millimeters from Edward's.
A throat cleared across the room and both men whirled to face the direction of the witness to their revealing exchange. A solid man with dark hair strictly parted and combed stood by the kitchen. His body was relaxed, but he had an air of readiness about him, belying his generic appearance. His gray eyes were impassive, and his expression was bored, but for the smallest twitch of the corner of his mouth. Jasper took in the man's perfectly tailored and fitted suit and frowned. Edward's face broke into confused recognition, "Dmitri?"
The bulky man nodded to Edward, "Mr. Cullen, I was told my services were required, and I know your family demands only the best, so here I am."
Jasper had all but forgotten his late night phone call, but the tension that had taken over his body relaxed immediately. Edward stared blankly at Dmitri, "Why the hell would I need a bodyguard?"
Jasper stepped in, "Mr. Bressler, thank you so much for coming on such short notice. I am Jasper Whitlock, I'm the one who called you."
Edward rounded on Jasper, "Why did you call Dmitri? For that matter, how the hell do you even know who he is?"
Jasper glanced from Edward to the bodyguard and back, "Last night, I chased away someone that was attempting to break into your room. I happened to wake up and hear the noise, and I assumed it was the same person who was here two nights ago. The person fled as soon as I opened my door. With your presence in Texas now common knowledge to the public, and given the relative seclusion of where you're staying, I felt that I would not necessarily be able to keep you properly safe. I called Emmett, and he gave me Mr. Bressler's information."
Edward's face grew fearful as Jasper mentioned the return of the person who had been trying to get into his rooms. He sat down on the bed, first worried about the intrusion, then concerned that Jasper had gone out with whoever had attempted to break in. His emotions settled on gratitude that Jasper had both remembered his family used bodyguards, and had contacted Emmett to get one that would be discreet about his services.
Jasper turned his attention to Dmitri, "I would like you to monitor the hotel. I can keep an eye on Ed-Mr. Cullen while he is on the site, and I trust the volunteers, mostly because none of them had any way of knowing Mr. Cullen would be anywhere near the site, and all have worked on at least one project before. The press are not allowed near, and the documentary crew has been vetted by Cullen Enterprises." Jasper didn't mention his misgivings about Jake, since he didn't want to worry Edward or Dmitri unnecessarily, and he had already decided to keep close watch on the filmmaker for the duration of the project, "I want to make sure that Mr. Cullen has nothing to worry about during the hours that he is not on the site. I know the days he has are long enough as it is. Bill Whitlock Construction for your services and any expenses incurred for the duration of this project." Dmitri nodded gravely. He was detached as a bodyguard must be, but he had always had a soft spot for Edward, especially given his seriousness and how personally he took any evident threat to his life.
Dmitri had personally protected all three Cullen children. Alice was brusque when she had to deal with protection, often insisting on entering entirely unsecure locations for frivolous purposes. Emmett was the most capable of protecting himself, but when he worked with a bodyguard, he was always respectful and supremely comfortable with whatever situation required Dmitri's services. Edward was by far the most timid. When he was exposed to dangerous situations, he followed Dmitri's instructions religiously, but he also worried obsessively about every choice and move he made, concerned for the wellbeing of his bodyguard. Dmitri was intrigued by Edward, since most rich people who had powerful enough enemies to require a bodyguard were callous and treated their protection like human shields. Most were completely ambivalent to any danger they were putting their bodyguard in, but Edward often changed his schedule completely to adopt cumbersome safety measures to ensure that no danger would befall someone protecting him.
"So, now that that's cleared up… I guess I should go…" Jasper didn't really want to leave, but with Dmitri there, he worried Edward wouldn't be comfortable talking things through. He also wanted to give Edward time to process the fact that the midnight break-in was not a secluded and unrelated incident. Jasper was almost positive that someone knew Edward was staying in that room and wanted to get to him. Dmitri said nothing and Edward was still sitting on the bed, mulling through the information that had just come to light.
Jasper left and looked at his watch. It was too early to get dinner, and the others from the site would be nearly finished, so there was no point in going back tonight. He decided to return to his room and check out his unfinished contractual work. He'd left Seattle without tying up all the projects that needed administration, and now he was paying for it with nights of only 3 hours of sleep. It didn't help that his days and nights were practically plagued with thoughts and fantasies about Edward Cullen.
Jasper was feeling a little frayed around the edges by the time he finished with all his paperwork an hour later. He stretched in his chair, then squared up the entire stack. He needed to fax them to his office tomorrow, since he didn't have access tonight. He sighed and opened his email. He hadn't checked his private account in over a week, so he wasn't surprised to see the obligatory set from his parents, wanting to know how his life was going. He had a couple email advertisements from a store he mistakenly gave his address to about three years ago. There was a final email from an address he didn't recognize.
From:
To: .com
CC:
Subject: Revenge
Jasper wasn't sure what to make of the email, but he opened it anyway. The email contained a single link to YouTube. Jasper clicked on the link and watched, enthralled, as the drama onscreen unfolded. The video showed a man named James Cameron being confronted by young college men who he had conned into sleeping with him. As soon as the first story unfolded, Jasper knew what this was. He watched as the man grew more and more agitated before finally punching the reporter covering the story.
The video had been captured from a news station broadcast the previous week. It had received over 200,000 views in the five days it had been up, and nearly all comments were gleeful at the way the "dude" got "served." According to the clip, an anonymous source had tipped the reporter off to the developing story, and at present, Mr. Cameron faced charges of statutory rape from the state, and he had been summarily dismissed from the university. In addition, his wife had refused to talk to the press directly, but they had caught her on camera making a call to James and chewing him out.
Jasper was struck by the perfect revenge. He knew now who EmAlice was, and he hoped Edward had seen or would soon see the video. Edward wasn't James' only 'experiment'. He was one of many who had suffered at the hands of James' denial. Perhaps in some small way, this would help Edward to put the past behind him and focus on other things, like Jasper.
Just then there was a shy knock on Jasper's door. He hopped up from his table and crossed the room, pulling the door open to reveal Edward in a beautiful suit coat and a dark red button down. He was still wearing the inappropriate jeans, belt, and Jasper's cowboy boots. Edward looked slightly green around the gills.
Jasper shifted uncomfortably, not sure if Edward would still be the cocky playful version he'd been all day, "What's the occasion?" He asked, gesturing to Edward's clothes. Edward's cheeks tinged pink and he fidgeted with his jacket cuff.
"I… um, do you still want to have dinner with me?" Edward forced himself to meet Jasper's cerulean gaze and the blond broke out in a beautiful smile.
"Why Mr. Cullen, I do believe we're about to have our very first date." Jasper swung the door closed in Edward's face. The redhead blinked before rapping on the door, face growing redder, but not from embarrassment. Jasper swung the door open to reveal his bare chest as he tried to decide between shirts. Edward gaped and Jasper smirked, "I'll be along in a minute, wouldn't want to spoil the surprise." He let the door swing closed in Edward's face for the second time, and this time the younger man simply stared at the wood for a moment, thinking that if ever there was a time to gain the power to see through walls, this exact moment was that time. He adjusted himself in his jeans and huffed a little at the nerve of Jasper before returning to his room to await his date.
Twenty five minutes later, Jasper knocked languidly on Edward's door and the fuming redhead jerked the door roughly open, "It's about fucking ti—" Jasper held out a bouquet of white roses and Edward trailed off. The other man was dressed in similar fashion to Edward, except he was wearing a hat. His shirt was dark blue and sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, his jeans weren't quite as clingy as Edward's, and his belt was the same one he'd been the day he'd picked Edward up from the airport.
"Sorry I'm late, I just wanted it to be a proper first date." Jasper stood respectfully outside as Edward gave him a once over.
"Get your ass in here, cowboy." Edward accepted the roses and let Jasper in before closing the door and slipping the chain on. He turned and Jasper was right behind him, standing close. Edward's breathing caught and he had to restrain himself from grabbing the blond. His heart pounded in his ears as Jasper drew closer. Edward put a hand up and Jasper backed off immediately, his expression wary and a little hurt. Edward smiled a small smile to reassure Jasper, "Just because you bring me flowers doesn't make me a girl, Jasper Whitlock. And if I were a girl, I definitely wouldn't put out on the first date."
Edward walked past Jasper toward the table he'd set, but Jasper caught his arm, swinging him around, "Careful what you say, Edward, I might have to hold you to that later… no matter how much you beg." Edward's eyes widened as Jasper brought his lips gently to Edward's. The younger man felt his control melt away as he tried to deepen the gentle kiss. Edward swiped his tongue across Jasper's lip, but the older man simply held him and kept his lips together. Edward whimpered and his tongue pressed insistently at Jasper's lips. The older man drew away and Edward shivered.
Jasper smiled brilliantly and pulled off his hat, which had been knocked askew. He set the hat on the dresser and wandered toward the table, surveying the meal Edward had prepared. Edward pressed a hand to his mouth and berated himself for responding too eagerly.
Jasper peaked into the pot on the table and as soon as he smelled the contents he turned to Edward, "Is this Chili?" Edward nodded and Jasper grinned, "I don't suppose you have some cornbread to go with it?" Edward shrugged.
"I tried to make some, I'm not sure how it turned out though, I've never done it before…" Jasper took a seat as Edward sat across the table.
The two men sat silently for a moment. Edward tapped the table nervously with one hand, "Well, the only way this could get more awkward is if Emmett joined us," Jasper said to try and break the tension. Edward let out a startled burst of laughter and Jasper grinned reaching over to lay a hand over Edward's. Edward gulped and looked down at the hand over his, "It's okay to be nervous, Edward, but trust me when I tell you that nothing you tell me will ever become news or be used against you. I've thought a lot about our discussion, and I'm sorry I overreacted. I shouldn't have pushed you to talk when you were so uncomfortable, and I should have stayed until we worked everything out. I know it's hard for you to open up, and I want you to be able to trust me without getting hurt again." Edward relaxed visibly.
After a moment of comfortable silence he responded, "I'm glad you pushed, Jasper. I shut you out, and I probably wouldn't have manned up and talked to you if you hadn't forced me to. I'm too comfortable living within the confines of my public image, and quite frankly, it's beginning to piss me off." Jasper laughed and withdrew his hand so that he could serve himself some chili.
"Now I warn you, Edward, my love for authentic chili comes from my Texan blood. You have a grand heritage to live up to." He smiled to show he was teasing and Edward watched as Jasper scooped up a large spoonful of the concoction and put it in his mouth. Jasper looked at Edward in surprise for a split second before his eyes closed and he moaned. Edward smirked and helped himself to the chili, "Damn, Edward. That's fantastic. Did you kidnap a chef or something?"
Edward snorted, "Please, Whitlock, The things you don't know about me could fill several books. Cooking is the least of my talents." He took a bite of the chili and smiled as the flavor burst on his tongue. Swallowing he said, "My mother always encouraged us to learn something domestic, so that we wouldn't get complacent with our wealth. I chose to cook, Alice ended up becoming a fairly good mechanic, and Emmett is a pro at laundry and cleaning." Jasper was struck with a sudden image of Emmett dressed up in a French maid's outfit and he choked on a mouthful of chili.
"So… Emmett cleans?" Jasper asked mildly after he got himself under control. Edward nodded, grinning widely, "Is there… photographic evidence?" Edward nodded again. Jasper leaned across the table, "What would I have to do to get it from you?" he asked, voice husky with desire. Edward caught his lower lip between his teeth, thinking.
"I'll let you know when I find out what all you have to offer," Edward promised. The suggestion in his voice kept Jasper on edge as they continued to eat. Jasper took a drink from his glass and raised his eyebrows.
"How the hell did you get authentic sweet tea?"
"I made it," Edward replied.
"Well, you are a revelation, Mr. Cullen. You cook like a chef, you're comfortable in a construction zone and an office. I may have to make an honest man out of you to keep someone else from swooping in and stealing you away." Edward's cheeks tinged with pink again and Jasper bit back the groan that threatened to escape.
"I'm not that special," the redhead muttered, "I freak out at the sight of cameras, I have stalkers, I faint from the slightest exertion, and the only two men I've… turned out to be assholes." He picked at his food as he spoke, and his face flushed darker as he thought about James and Felix.
Jasper scowled, "You're an amazing man, Edward Cullen. If you weren't so strong, you would have broken under the obvious strain the media puts on you. The guys who used you in the past obviously had no understanding of how much you were worth. Their loss, and hopefully my gain." The conversation had taken a drastic turn for the serious, and Jasper wanted to get everything out in the open, "Edward, there are a lot of people who genuinely care about you. I want you to realize that the relationships you had in the past, the guys who screwed you over… It's not your fault. Most people go through their entire lives and don't have the sort of bad luck that you had to get saddled with those losers. I want to show you that all men aren't like them. Maybe I'm not the right guy for you, but I'm going to show you what you deserve, how you deserve to be treated. If and when you decide to go public is your choice. I didn't really get your situation until the hospital tonight.
"I won't force you to face a kind of scrutiny that I'll never have to experience, but know that no matter what, I'll be there for you if the time comes. I don't care if you decide you don't want to date me, I will still be your friend, and I'll be there for you, Edward."
Jasper grabbed Edward's hand and squeezed it, conveying the sincerity of his words. He carried on, "When we're on the site tomorrow and for the rest of the time here, you call the shots. I'll be as supportive or distant as you need. I don't want you to feel pressure or obligation to me." Jasper stood and released Edward's hand, wiping his mouth with his napkin before draining the last of his tea.
"I should go, Edward. Thank you so much for giving me this chance, and for dinner." Edward pulled back his hand hesitantly, not really wanting Jasper to leave. The blond turned to pick up his hat and Edward walked purposefully up behind him, wrapping his hands around Jasper's muscular torso and pressing his palms flat against the taller man's chest. Edward rested his head on Jasper's shoulder.
"Thank you for coming to dinner. I don't want you to leave."
Jasper let his hands fall away from his hat and leaned back into Edward for a moment. He turned and cupped Edward's face in his hands, bringing his lips to the younger man's once again in a chaste kiss. Edward wrapped his arms around Jasper's back and neck, holding him close as he slipped his leg between Jasper's and pushed the bigger man up against the dresser. Edward moaned into the kiss and Jasper let go for a moment, allowing Edward to plunder his mouth.
Jasper marveled at how well the other man fit in his arms, how perfectly their mouths came together. He kissed Edward back fervidly, gripping the younger man's shoulders. Their bodies slid together perfectly, two pieces of the same puzzle. Jasper wasn't sure how long they stood together. He wasn't sure who broke away for air, or how his shirt got unbuttoned.
When Edward fell back onto the bed and pulled Jasper after him, the blond wrested control back from his passion and drew back reluctantly. Edward's confusion showed on his flushed face, "What?" He attempted to pull Jasper to the bed once more, but the blond gently disentangled himself from Edward's grip.
"Jesus Christ, I can't believe I'm saying this, Edward. I have to leave. I don't want you to have any doubt about this, and I don't want you to think for a second that I only want you for your body. Fuck, I want you so much, but I want us even more."
Edward tried to gather his lust-addled wits and mount some sort of convincing argument, "I'm scared to be alone, Jasper. Stay with me tonight?" he said, putting a pitifully hopeful expression on his face. Jasper took one look at the obviously fake expression and laughed ruefully.
"Goddamn, Edward. I wish you were a better actor. We both know you're perfectly safe with Dmitri outside."
"I made you dinner… the least you could do is—"
Jasper bent to kiss Edward once more, appreciating how hard the younger man was trying to get him to relent and stay. Edward's hands immediately slid under the open shirt and teased Jasper's hardened nipples before sliding to Jasper's back and pulling the blond down on top of his smaller form. Jasper felt Edward's erection pressing into his thigh, as he was sure Edward felt his. They kissed passionately, tongues sliding in tandem, the rhythm of their breathing perfectly in sync. Edward felt Jasper's hands on either side of him, keeping the bulk of his weight off the younger man. The redhead attempted to addle Jasper into losing control, furiously teasing the warm flesh of the older man. Edward arched his hips off the bed to grind his throbbing cock against Jasper's leg. He felt Jasper's length slide along his hip and strained even harder.
Contrary to Edward's intent, his actions brought Jasper back to his senses and he drew back, planting gentle kisses all around Edward's face. The blond pulled away once again and stood.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Edward. I think you're more than worth the wait."
Edward pouted, muttering about Jasper not caring when he was drunk. Jasper pulled the younger man off the bed and held him close, "You're wrong, Edward. I cared too much, which is why I have to control myself now. This won't be a repeat of the last time. I won't sleep with you again until you're absolutely sure that you're ready."
"I'm fucking ready, you asshole." Edward fumed, "Cocktease. Charlatan. Fucking erotic cowboy fantasy. Sex on legs. Fuck me already!" Edward tried to ensnare Jasper one last time, but Jasper wouldn't let him get close enough to capture his lips, so Edward licked Jasper's jaw. The blond groaned and pushed Edward away gently.
"Good things to those who wait," he said placatingly. Edward growled and glared at the taller man before crossing his arms.
"Whatever, I didn't really want to sleep with you anyway, I just wanted you so worked up that you wouldn't be able to concentrate for the next hour." He returned to the table and quickly picked up the remnants of the meal, stowing them with a practiced efficiency. Jasper watched for a moment, torn between wanting to help like a good guest and the knowledge that Edward was trying to bait him into easy striking distance again. In the end, he decided against helping, since he sincerely wanted to wait, and was certain that if Edward managed to kiss him again, there would be no going back.
"Thank you for dinner, Edward. And thank you for wanting me like I want you. I promise we'll revisit this topic very soon."
Edward scowled at the blond, itching to pounce once more, but Jasper backed toward the door. Edward's expression softened when he saw the regret on Jasper's beautiful face, "I'm sorry I was so persistent." He apologized, fidgeting adorably. Jasper smiled.
"I know." He assured the younger man.
Edward scowled at Jasper's easy acceptance, "You'll pay for it tomorrow. I'll make you wish you'd stayed."
Jasper laughed, "I already wish for that, Edward. I'm leaving because I have to, not because I want to."
"Hmph." Was the only response he got.
"By the way… check your email." Jasper sent a weird look at Edward and the younger man's brow knit in confusion.
"My email?"
"Emmett sent you something that you need to see. If you want to talk afterward, I'll be in my room. We'll just talk though, so don't get any ideas." Jasper shot a warning look at Edward and the younger man grinned and stuck his tongue out at the blond. Jasper turned and slipped out the door as Edward finished rinsing the last dish.
The blond man moseyed back to his room, ignoring the rather pointed look from the sedan parked in front of Edward's room. He plopped down on his bed and pulled out his laptop, bringing up his email he composed a quick response to Emmett's video.
Edward sat on his bed, waiting for his computer to boot up. He hadn't taken the time to check his email since the first day Jasper had tried to stalk him at his office. He usually had the automatic notification system on at work, but Jasper had sent him a series of pleading messages so he'd deactivated the feature, intending to have Bella screen the emails and remove any from Jasper. He opened his inbox and saw 239 unread messages. He flagged all that were from Jasper and put them into a separate folder. Perhaps he would read them later. He selected all the obviously charity related ones and moved them into their own folder. The emails from his family went into yet another folder. He saw three emails from Emmett, none of which looked particularly interesting. He scanned them trying to figure out how Jasper knew Emmett had emailed him, and what exactly he was supposed to get from the messages. He returned to his general inbox and saw the name emalice. It was a name he didn't recognize, but there was no attachment so he opened it. The only thing the message contained was a link to that video site. Edward narrowed his eyes at the link and made sure it led to the site it claimed to. Not seeing any reason to hesitate, Edward clicked on the link and a video started to play.
A/N I'm trying to bring this fic back from the depths of angst and torturous emo sadness. Let me know how I did, in the meantime, until it becomes truly a humor fic, i'm going to change it to Drama! which in my mind means humor and angst.